Image display apparatus and method for operating the same

ABSTRACT

An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating the image display apparatus includes entering a 3-dimensional (3D) mode, receiving color data and depth data of a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD) according to the 3D mode, converting the 2D OSD into a 3D OSD using the color data and the depth data, and displaying a 3D image including the converted 3D OSD on a display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0089729, filed on Sep. 5, 2011 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and a methodfor operating the same, and more particularly to an image displayapparatus, which is able to increase user convenience, and a method foroperating the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

An image display apparatus functions to display images to a user. A usercan view a broadcast program using an image display apparatus. The imagedisplay apparatus can display a broadcast program selected by the useron a display from among broadcast programs transmitted from broadcastingstations. The recent trend in broadcasting is a worldwide transitionfrom analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting.

Digital broadcasting transmits digital audio and video signals. Digitalbroadcasting offers many advantages over analog broadcasting, such asrobustness against noise, less data loss, ease of error correction, andthe ability to provide clear, high-definition images. Digitalbroadcasting also allows interactive viewer services, compared to analogbroadcasting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide animage display apparatus which is able to increase user convenience, anda method for operating the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay apparatus which is able to convert a 2-dimensional (2D) onscreen display (OSD) into a 3-dimensional (3D) OSD according to a 3Dmode and displaying the 3D OSD, and a method for operating the same.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method foroperating an image display apparatus, including entering a 3-dimensional(3D) mode by receiving a user input, receiving color data and depth dataof a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD),converting the 2D OSDinto a 3D OSD using the color data and the depth data to create a leftimage and a right image; and displaying a 3D image including theconverted 3D OSD on a display.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for operating an image display apparatus, includingentering a 3-dimensional (3D) mode, receiving color data and depth dataof a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD) according to the 3Dmode, converting the 2D OSD into a 3D OSD using the color data and thedepth data, and displaying a 3D image including the converted 3D OSD ona display.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for operating an image display apparatus, includingentering a 3-dimensional (3D) mode, converting a 2-dimensional (2D) onscreen display (OSD) into a 3D OSD according to the 3D mode, anddisplaying a 3D image including the converted 3D OSD on a display.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image display apparatus including a formatter configured toconvert a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD) into a3-dimensional (3D) OSD using color data and depth data of the 2D OSDwhen entering a 3D mode, and a display configured to display a 3D imageincluding the converted 3D OSD.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, when entering a3D mode, color data and depth data of a 2D OSD is received, the 2D OSDis converted into a 3D OSD using the color data and the depth data, anda 3D image including the converted 3D OSD is displayed on a display.Accordingly, it is possible to conveniently convert the 2D OSD into the3D OSD and to increase user convenience.

Entry into the 3D mode may be performed when a 2D object indicatingentry into the 3D mode in a home screen is selected. Accordingly, it ispossible to conveniently enter the 3D mode.

Meanwhile, if the 3D OSD indicating a content type in a 3D image isselected, a content list corresponding to the content type is displayed.Accordingly, it is possible to increase user convenience.

If one piece of content is selected from a content list, the content isdisplayed in 3D. Accordingly, it is possible to increase userconvenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an imagedisplay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams showing internal configurations of aset-top box and a display apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of acontroller of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4( a)-4(e) are diagrams showing various formats of a 3D image;

FIGS. 5( a)-5(b) are diagrams showing an operation of a 3D viewingdevice according to the formats of FIGS. 4( a)-4(e);

FIGS. 6( a)-6(d) are diagrams showing various scaling schemes of a 3Dimage signal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining an image formed by a left-eye image and aright-eye image;

FIGS. 8( a)-8(b) are diagrams explaining the depth of a 3D imageaccording to a disparity between a left-eye image and a right-eye image;

FIGS. 9( a)-9(c) are diagrams showing a method of controlling a remotecontroller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of theremote controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating an imagedisplay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIGS. 12A to 18B are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus, illustrated inFIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the attached drawings.

The terms “module” and “unit” attached to describe the names ofcomponents are used herein to help the understanding of the componentsand thus they should not be considered as having specific meanings orroles. Accordingly, the terms “module” and “unit” may be interchangeablein their use.

FIG. 1 a diagram showing the internal configuration of an image displayapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image display apparatus 100 according to theembodiment of the present invention includes a broadcast reception unit105, an external device interface 130, a memory 140, a user inputinterface 150, a sensor unit, a controller 170, a display 180, an audiooutput unit 185, and a viewing device 195.

The broadcast reception unit 105 may include a tuner unit 110, ademodulator 120 and a network interface135. Of course, as necessary, thebroadcast reception unit 105 may include only the tuner unit 110 and thedemodulator 120 or may include only the network interface135.

The tuner unit 110 tunes to a Radio Frequency (RF) broadcast signalcorresponding to a channel selected by a user from among RF broadcastsignals received through an antenna or RF broadcast signalscorresponding to all channels previously stored in the image displayapparatus. The tuned RF broadcast is converted into an IntermediateFrequency (IF) signal or a baseband Audio/Video (AV) signal.

For example, the tuned RF broadcast signal is converted into a digitalIF signal DIF if it is a digital broadcast signal and is converted intoan analog baseband AV signal (Composite Video Banking Sync/SoundIntermediate Frequency (CVBS/SIF)) if it is an analog broadcast signal.That is, the tuner unit 110 may process a digital broadcast signal or ananalog broadcast signal. The analog baseband AV signal (CVBS/SIF) outputfrom the tuner unit 110 may be directly input to the controller 170.

In addition, the tuner unit 110 may be capable of receiving RF broadcastsignals from an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)single-carrier system or from a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)multi-carrier system.

The tuner unit 110 may sequentially select a number of RF broadcastsignals corresponding to all broadcast channels previously stored in theimage display apparatus by a channel storage function from a pluralityof RF signals received through the antenna and may convert the selectedRF broadcast signals into IF signals or baseband A/V signals.

The tuner unit 110 may include a plurality of tuners in order to receivebroadcast signals of a plurality of channels. Alternatively, the tunerunit 110 may be a single tuner which simultaneously receives broadcastsignals of a plurality of channels.

The demodulator 120 receives the digital IF signal DIF from the tunerunit 110 and demodulates the digital IF signal DIF.

The demodulator 120 may perform demodulation and channel decoding,thereby obtaining a stream signal TS. The stream signal TS may be asignal in which a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal aremultiplexed.

The stream signal output from the demodulator 120 may be input to thecontroller 170 and thus subjected to demultiplexing and A/V signalprocessing. The processed video and audio signals are output to thedisplay 180 and the audio output unit 185, respectively.

The external device interface 130 may serve as an interface between anexternal device and the image display apparatus 100. For interfacing,the external device interface 130 may include an A/V Input/Output (I/O)unit and/or a wireless communication module.

The external device interface 130 may be connected to an external devicesuch as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a Blu-ray player, a gameconsole, a camera, a camcorder, or a computer (e.g., a laptop computer),wirelessly or by wire and may receive or transmit data from or to theexternal device.

The A/V I/O unit may receive a video and audio signal of an externaldevice. The wireless communication module may perform short-rangewireless communication with other electronic devices.

The network interface 135 serves as an interface between the imagedisplay apparatus 100 and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet.The network interface 135 may receive content or data provided by anInternet or content provider or a network operator over a network.

The memory 140 may store various programs necessary for the controller170 to process and control signals, and may also store processed video,audio and data signals.

The memory 140 may temporarily store a video, audio and/or data signalreceived from the external device interface 130. The memory 140 maystore information about a predetermined broadcast channel by the channelstorage function.

While the memory 140 is shown in FIG. 1 as configured separately fromthe controller 170, to which the present invention is not limited, thememory 140 may be incorporated into the controller 170.

The user input interface 150 transmits a signal input by the user to thecontroller 170 or transmits a signal received from the controller 170 tothe user.

For example, the user input interface 150 may transmit or receivevarious user input signals such as a power-on/off signal, a channelselection signal, and a screen setting signal to or from a remotecontroller 200, transmit a user input signal input by a local key suchas a power key, a channel key, a volume key and a setting key to thecontroller 170, transmit a user input signal received by a sensor unitfor sensing a user gesture to the controller 170, or transmit a signalfrom the controller 170 to the sensor unit.

The controller 170 may demultiplex the stream signal TS received fromthe tuner unit 110, the demodulator 120, or the external deviceinterface 130 into a number of signals, process the demultiplexedsignals into audio and video data, and output the audio and video data.

The video signal processed by the controller 170 may be displayed as animage on the display 180. The video signal processed by the controller170 may also be transmitted to an external output device through theexternal device interface 130.

The audio signal processed by the controller 170 may be output to theaudio output unit 185. Also, the audio signal processed by thecontroller 170 may be transmitted to the external output device throughthe external device interface 130.

The controller 170 may include a DEMUX, a video processor, etc., whichwill be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 3.

The controller 170 may control the overall operation of the imagedisplay apparatus 100. For example, the controller 170 controls thetuner unit 110 to tune to an RF signal corresponding to a channelselected by the user or a previously stored channel.

The controller 170 may control the image display apparatus 100 by a usercommand input through the user input interface 150 or an internalprogram.

The controller 170 may control the display 180 to display images. Theimage displayed on the display 180 may be a Two-Dimensional (2D) orThree-Dimensional (3D) still image or moving picture.

The controller 170 may generate and display a 3D object with respect toa predetermined object among images displayed on the display 180. Forexample, the object may be at least one of an accessed web screen(newspaper, magazine, etc.), an EPG, various menus, a widget, an icon, astill image, a moving image, or a text file.

The 3D object may be processed to have a depth different from an imagedisplayed on the display 180. Preferably, the 3D object may be processedto appear to protrude from an image displayed on the display 180.

The controller 170 recognizes the position of the user based on an imagecaptured by a camera unit. For example, a distance (z-axis coordinate)between the user and the image display apparatus 100 may be detected. Anx-axis coordinate and a y-axis coordinate in the image display apparatus100 corresponding to the position of the user may be detected.

A channel browsing processor for generating a thumbnail imagecorresponding to a channel signal or an external input signal may befurther included. The channel browsing processor may receive the streamsignal TS output from the demodulator 120 or the stream signal outputfrom the external device interface 130, extract an image from thereceived stream signal, and generate a thumbnail image. The generatedthumbnail image may be input to the controller 170 along with thedecoded image. The controller 170 may display a thumbnail list includinga plurality of thumbnail images on the display 180 using the inputthumbnail image.

The thumbnail list may be displayed in a brief view method of displayingthe thumbnail list in a part of an area in a state of displaying apredetermined image on the display 180 or may be displayed in a fullviewing method of displaying the thumbnail list in a full area of thedisplay 180. The thumbnail images of the thumbnail list may besequentially updated.

The display 180 converts the video signal, the data signal, the OSDsignal and the control signal processed by the controller 170 or thevideo signal, the data signal and the control signal received by theexternal device interface 130 and generates a driving signal.

The display 180 may be a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), a Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD), an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display or aflexible display. In particular, the display 180 may be a 3D display.

For viewing a 3D image, the display 180 may be divided into asupplementary display method and a single display method. In the singledisplay method, a 3D image is implemented on the display 180 without aseparate subsidiary device, for example, glasses. The single displaymethod may include, for example, a lenticular method, a parallaxbarrier, or the like.

In the supplementary display method, a 3D image is implemented on thedisplay 180 using a subsidiary device. The supplementary display methodincludes various methods such as a Head-Mounted Display (HMD) method ora glasses method.

The glasses method may be divided into a passive method such as apolarized glasses method and an active method such as a shutter glassesmethod. The HMD method may be divided into a passive method and anactive method.

The 3D viewing device 195 may be 3D glasses capable of viewing a 3Dimage. The 3D glasses 195 may include passive polarized glasses oractive shutter glasses and may also include the above-described HMDmethod.

For example, if the viewing device 195 is polarized glasses, a left-eyeglass may be implemented by a left-eye polarized glass and a right-eyeglass may be implemented by a right-eye polarized glass.

As another example, if the viewing device 195 is shutter glasses,left-eye and right-eye glasses may be alternately opened or closed.

The viewing device 195 may be 2D glasses capable of allowing users toview different images.

For example, if the viewing device 195 is polarized glasses, the viewingdevice may be implemented by the same polarized glasses. That is, boththe left-eye and the right-eye glasses of the first viewing device 195 ainclude glasses polarized in a first direction and the left-eye andright-eye glasses of the second viewing device 195 b may includeright-eye polarized glasses polarized in a second direction differentfrom the first direction.

As another example, if the viewing device 195 is shutter glasses, theglasses may be opened or closed at the same time. That is, both theleft-eye and right-eye glasses of the first viewing device 195 a may beopened for a first time and closed for a second time, and both theleft-eye and right-eye glasses of the second viewing device 195 b may beclosed for a first time and opened for a second time.

If the display 180 is a touch screen, the display 180 may function asnot only an output signal but also an input device.

The audio output unit 185 receives the audio signal processed by thecontroller 170 and outputs the received audio signal as sound.

The camera unit captures the image of the user. Although the cameralunit may include one camera, the present invention is not limitedthereto and the camera unit may include a plurality of cameras. Thecamera unit may be disposed on the display 180 or may be separatelyprovided. The image information captured by the camera unit is input tothe controller 170.

The control unit 170 may sense a user's gesture by the image captured bythe camera unit, the signal sensed by the sensor unit, or a combinationthereof.

The remote controller 200 transmits a user input to the user inputinterface 150. For transmission of user input, the remote controller 200may use various communication techniques such as IR communication, RFcommunication, Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband (UWB) and ZigBee. In addition,the remote controller 200 may receive a video signal, an audio signal ora data signal from the user input interface 150 and output the receivedsignals visually or audibly.

The above-described image display apparatus 100 may be a fixed or mobiledigital broadcast receiver. The image display apparatus described in thepresent specification may include a TV receiver, a monitor, a projector,a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcastterminal, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable MultimediaPlayer (PMP), etc.

The block diagram of the image display apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.1 is only exemplary. Depending upon the specifications of the imagedisplay apparatus 100 in actual implementation, the components of theimage display apparatus 100 may be combined or omitted or new componentsmay be added. That is, two or more components are incorporated into onecomponent or one component may be configured as separate components, asneeded. In addition, the function of each block is described for thepurpose of describing the embodiment of the present invention and thusspecific operations or devices should not be construed as limiting thescope and spirit of the present invention.

Unlike FIG. 1, the image display apparatus 100 may not include the tunerunit 110 and the demodulator 120 shown in FIG. 1 and may receive imagecontent through the network interface 135 or the external deviceinterface 130 and reproduce the image content.

The image display apparatus 100 is an example of an image signalprocessing apparatus that processes an image stored in the apparatus oran input image. Other examples of the image signal processing apparatusinclude a set-top box without the display 180 and the audio output unit185, a DVD player, a Blu-ray player, a game console, and a computer. Theset-top box will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams showing internal configurations of aset-top box and a display device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a set-top box 250 and a display device 300 maytransmit or receive data wirelessly or by wire. The set-top box 250 mayinclude a network interface 255, a memory 258, a signal processor 260, auser input interface 263, and an external device interface 265.

The network interface 255 serves as an interface between the set-top box250 and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet. The networkinterface 255 may transmit data to or receive data from another user oranother electronic device over a connected network or over anothernetwork linked to the connected network.

The memory 258 may store programs necessary for the signal processor 260to process and control signals and temporarily store a video, audioand/or data signal received from the external device interface 265 orthe network interface 255.

The signal processor 260 processes an input signal. For example, thesignal processor 260 may demultiplex or decode an input video or audiosignal. For signal processing, the signal processor 260 may include avideo decoder or an audio decoder. The processed video or audio signalmay be transmitted to the display device 300 through the external deviceinterface 265.

The user input interface 263 transmits a signal received from the userto the signal processor 260 or a signal received from the signalprocessor 260 to the user. For example, the user input interface 263 mayreceive various control signals such as a power on/off signal, anoperation input signal, and a setting input signal through a local keyor the remote controller 200 and output the control signals to thesignal processor 260.

The external device interface 265 serves as an interface between theset-top box 250 and an external device that is connected wirelessly orby wire, particularly the display device 300, for signal transmission orreception. The external device interface 265 may also interface with anexternal device such as a game console, a camera, a camcorder, and acomputer (e.g. a laptop computer), for data transmission or reception.

The set-top box 250 may further include a media input unit for mediaplayback. The media input unit may be a Blu-ray input unit, for example.That is, the set-top box 250 may include a Blu-ray player. After signalprocessing such as demultiplexing or decoding in the signal processor260, a media signal from a Blu-ray disk may be transmitted to thedisplay device 300 through the external device interface 265 so as to bedisplayed on the display device 300.

The display device 300 may include a broadcast reception unit 272, anexternal device interface 273, a memory 278, a controller 280, a userinput interface 283, a display 290, and an audio output unit 295.

The broadcast reception unit 272 may include a tuner 270 and ademodulator 275.

The tuner 270, the demodulator 275, the memory 278, the controller 280,the user input interface 283, the display 290, and the audio output unit295 are identical respectively to the tuner unit 110, the demodulator120, the memory 140, the controller 170, the user input interface 150,the display 180, and the audio output unit 185 illustrated in FIG. 1 andthus a description thereof is not provided herein.

The external device interface 273 serves as an interface between thedisplay device 300 and a wireless or wired external device, particularlythe set-top box 250, for data transmission or reception.

Hence, a video signal or an audio signal received through the set-topbox 250 is output through the display 290 or the audio output unit 295under the control of the controller 280.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the configuration of the set-top box 250 and thedisplay device 300 illustrated in FIG. 2B is similar to that of theset-top box 250 and the display device 300 illustrated in FIG. 2A,except that the broadcast reception unit 272 resides in the set-top box250, not in the display device 300, and the broadcast reception unit 272further includes a network interface 255. Hereinafter, such differencewill be focused upon.

The signal processor 260 may process a broadcast signal received throughthe tuner 270 and the demodulator 275. The user input interface 263 mayreceive a channel selection input, a channel store input, etc.

Although the audio output unit 185 of FIG. 1 is not shown in the set-topbox 250 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, a separate audio output unit may beincluded.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of thecontroller illustrated in FIG. 1, FIGS. 4( a)-4(e) are diagrams showingvarious formats of a 3D image, and FIGS. 5( a)-5(b) are diagrams showingan operation of a 3D viewing device according to the formats of FIGS. 4(a)-4(e).

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 170 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention may include a DEMUX 310, a video processor 320, anOSD generator 340, a mixer 345, a Frame Rate Converter (FRC) 350, and aformatter 360. The controller 170 may further include an audio processorand a data processor.

The DEMUX 310 demultiplexes an input stream. For example, the DEMUX 310may demultiplex an MPEG-2 TS into a video signal, an audio signal, and adata signal. The input stream signal may be received from the tuner unit110, the demodulator 120 or the external device interface 130.

The video processor 320 may process the demultiplexed video signal. Forvideo signal processing, the video processor 320 may include a videodecoder 325 and a scaler 335. The video decoder 325 decodes thedemultiplexed video signal and the scaler 335 scales the resolution ofthe decoded video signal so that the video signal can be displayed onthe display 180. The video decoder 325 may be provided with decodersthat operate based on various standards.

The video signal decoded by the video processor 320 may include a 2Dvideo signal, a mixture of a 2D video signal and a 3D video signal, or a3D video signal. For example, an external video signal received from theexternal device 190 or a broadcast video signal received from the tunerunit 110 includes a 2D video signal, a mixture of a 2D video signal anda 3D video signal, or a 3D video signal. Thus, the controller 170 and,more particularly, the video processor 320 may perform signal processingand output a 2D video signal, a mixture of a 2D video signal and a 3Dvideo signal, or a 3D video signal.

The decoded video signal from the video processor 320 may have any oneof various available formats. For example, the decoded video signal maybe a 3D video signal with a color image and a depth image or a 3D videosignal with multi-viewpoint image signals. The multi-viewpoint imagesignals may include, for example, a left-eye image signal and aright-eye image signal.

Formats of the 3D video signal may include a side-by-side format (FIG.4( a)) in which the left-eye image L and the right-eye image R arearranged in a horizontal direction, a top/down format (FIG. 4( b)) inwhich the left-eye image and the right-eye image are arranged in avertical direction, a frame sequential format (FIG. 4( c)) in which theleft-eye image and the right-eye image are time-divisionally arranged,an interlaced format (FIG. 4( d)) in which the left-eye image and theright-eye image are mixed in line units, and a checker box format (FIG.4( e)) in which the left-eye image and the right-eye image are mixed inbox units.

The processor 330 may control the overall operation of the image displayapparatus 100 or the controller 170. For example, the processor 330controls the tuner unit 110 to tune to a RF broadcast corresponding to achannel selected by a user or a previously stored channel.

The processor 330 may control the image display apparatus 100 by a usercommand input through the user input interface 150 or an internalprogram.

The processor 330 may control transmission or reception of data to orfrom the network interface 135 or the external device interface 130.

The processor 330 may control the operations of the DEMUX 310, the imageprocessor 320 and the OSD generator 340 of the controller 170.

The OSD generator 340 generates an OSD signal autonomously or accordingto a user input. For example, the OSD generator 340 may generate signalsby which a variety of information is displayed as graphics or text onthe display 180, according to user input signals. The OSD signal mayinclude various data such as a User Interface (UI), a variety of menus,widgets, icons, etc. Also, the OSD signal may include a 2D object and/ora 3D object.

The OSD generator 340 may generate a pointer which may be displayed onthe display, based on a pointing signal received from the remotecontroller 200. In particular, such a pointer may be generated by apointing signal processor. The OSD generator 340 may include such apointing signal processor). The pointing signal processor may not beprovided in the OSD generator 340 and may be provided separately fromthe OSD generator 340.

The mixer 345 may mix the decoded video signal processed by the videoprocessor 320 with the OSD signal generated by the OSD generator 340.The OSD signal and the decoded video signal each may include at leastone of a 2D signal or a 3D signal. The mixed video signal is provided tothe FRC 350.

The FRC 350 may change the frame rate of the received video signal. TheFRC 350 may output an input frame rate without frame rate conversion.

The formatter 360 may arrange a left-eye video frame and a right-eyevideo frame of the 3D video signal subjected to frame rate conversion.The formatter 360 may output a synchronization signal Vsync for openingthe left-eye glass and the right-eye glass of the 3D viewing device 195.

The formatter 360 may separate a 2D video signal and a 3D video signalfrom the mixed video signal of the OSD signal and the decoded videosignal received from the mixer 345.

Herein, a 3D video signal refers to a signal including a 3D object suchas a Picture-In-Picture (PIP) image (still or moving), an EPG thatdescribes broadcast programs, various menus, a widget, text, an objectwithin an image, a person, a background, or a Web page (e.g. from anewspaper, a magazine, etc.).

The formatter 360 may change the format of the 3D video signal, forexample, to one of the various formats illustrated in FIGS. 4 a-4 e. Asshown in FIGS. 5( a)-5(b), an operation of a 3D viewing device of aglasses type may be performed according to the format.

FIG. 5( a) illustrates an exemplary operation of the 3D viewing device195 and, more particularly, the shutter glasses 195 in the case wherethe formatter 360 outputs the frame sequential format illustrated inFIG. 4 c.

When the left-eye image L is displayed on the display 180, the left lensof the shutter glasses 195 is opened and the right lens is closed. Whenthe right-eye image R is displayed on the display 180, the left lens ofthe shutter glasses 195 is closed and the right lens is opened.

FIG. 5( b) illustrates an exemplary operation of the 3D viewing device195 and, more particularly, the polarized glasses 195 in the case wherethe formatter 360 outputs the side-by-side format illustrated in FIG. 4a. The 3D viewing device 195 illustrated in FIG. 5( b) may be shutterglasses. The shutter glasses may operate like the polarized glasses bymaintaining both the left-eye lens and the right-eye lens in an openstate.

Meanwhile, the formatter 360 may convert a 2D video signal into a 3Dvideo signal. For example, the formatter 360 may detect edges or aselectable object from the 2D video signal and generate a 3D videosignal with an object based on the detected edges or the selectableobject. As described before, the 3D video signal may be separated intoleft-eye and right-eye image signals L and R.

A 3D processor for 3D effect signal processing may be further providednext to the formatter 360. The 3D processor may control brightness,tint, and color of the video signal, for 3D effect improvement. Forexample, a short-distance video signal may be clearly processed and along-distance video signal may be blurredly processed. The function ofthe 3D processor may be incorporated into the formatter 360 or the videoprocessor 320, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6(a)-6(d).

The audio processor of the controller 170 may process the demultiplexedaudio signal. For audio processing, the audio processor may includevarious decoders.

The audio processor of the controller 170 may control bass, treble, andvolume of the audio signal.

The data processor of the controller 170 may process the demultiplexeddata signal. For example, if the demultiplexed data signal was encoded,the data processor may decode the data signal. The encoded data signalmay be Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information including broadcastinginformation such as the starts, ends, etc. of broadcast programs of eachchannel.

Although the signals from the OSD generator 340 and the video processor320 are mixed by the mixer 345 and then are subjected to 3D processingby the formatter 360 in FIG. 3, the present invention is not limitedthereto and the mixer may be located at the next stage of the formatter.That is, the formatter 360 may perform 3D processing with respect to theoutput of the video processor 320, the OSD generator 340 may perform OSDgeneration and 3D processing, and then the mixer 345 may mix theprocessed 3D signals.

The block diagram of the controller 170 shown in FIG. 3 is exemplary.The components of the block diagrams may be integrated or omitted, or anew component may be added.

In particular, the FRC 350 and the formatter 360 may not be provided inthe controller 170 and may be provided separately from the controller170.

FIGS. 6( a)-6(d) are diagrams showing various scaling schemes of a 3Dimage signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6( a)-6(d), in order to increase the 3D effect, thecontroller 170 may perform 3D effect signal processing. In particular,the size or slope of a 3D object in a 3D image may be controlled.

A 3D video signal or a 3D object 510 of the 3D video signal may beenlarged or reduced to a predetermined ratio (512) as shown in FIG. 6(a) or the 3D object may be partially enlarged or reduced (trapezoids 514and 516) as shown in FIGS. 6( b) and 6(c). As shown in FIG. 6( d), the3D object may be at least partially rotated (parallelogram 518). Byscaling (size control) or slope control, the 3D effect of the 3D imageor the 3D object of the 3D image may be increased.

As the slope is increased, a difference between the lengths of bothparallel sides of the trapezoids 514 and 516 may be increased as shownin FIG. 6( b) or 6(c) or a rotation angle is increased as shown in FIG.6( d).

Size control or slope control may be performed after the 3D video signalis converted into a predetermined format by the formatter 360 or may beperformed by the scaler of the video processor 320. In addition, the OSDgenerator 340 may generate an OSD signal so as to generate an object inshapes shown in FIGS. 6( a)-6(d), in order to increase the 3D effect.

As signal processing for the 3D effect, signal processing such ascontrol of brightness, tint, and color of the video signal or the objectmay be performed in addition to size control or slope control shown inFIGS. 6( a)-6(d). For example, a short-distance video signal may beclearly processed and a long-distance video signal may be blurredlyprocessed. Signal processing for the 3D effect may be performed by thecontroller 170 or a separate 3D processor. If signal processing for the3D effect is performed by the controller 170, signal processing for the3D effect may be performed by the formatter 360 or the video processor320 along with size control or slope control.

FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining an image formed by a left-eye image and aright-eye image, and FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining the depth of a 3Dimage according to a disparity between a left-eye image and a right-eyeimage.

First, referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of images or a plurality ofobjects 615, 625, 635 or 645 is shown.

A first object 615 includes a first left-eye image 611 (L) based on afirst left-eye image signal and a first right-eye image 613 (R) based ona first right-eye image signal, and a disparity between the firstleft-eye image 611 (L) and the first right-eye image 613 (R) is d1 onthe display 180. The user sees an image as formed at the intersectionbetween a line connecting a left eye 601 to the first left-eye image 611and a line connecting a right eye 603 to the first right-eye image 613.Therefore, the user perceives the first object 615 as being locatedbehind the display 180.

Since a second object 625 includes a second left-eye image 621 (L) and asecond right-eye image 623 (R), which are displayed on the display 180to overlap, a disparity between the second left-eye image 621 and thesecond right-eye image 623 is 0. Thus, the user perceives the secondobject 625 as being on the display 180.

A third object 635 includes a third left-eye image 631 (L) and a thirdright-eye image 633 (R) and a fourth object 645 includes a fourthleft-eye image 641 (L) and a fourth right-eye image 643 (R). A disparitybetween the third left-eye image 631 and the third right-eye images 633is d3 and a disparity between the fourth left-eye image 641 and thefourth right-eye image 643 is d4.

The user perceives the third and fourth objects 635 and 645 atimage-formed positions, that is, as being positioned before the display180.

Because the disparity d4 between the fourth left-eye image 641 (L) andthe fourth right-eye image 643 (R) is greater than the disparity d3between the third left-eye image 631 (L) and the third right-eye image633 (R), the fourth object 645 appears to be positioned closer to theviewer than the third object 635.

In embodiments of the present invention, the distances between thedisplay 180 and the objects 615, 625, 635 and 645 are represented asdepths. When an object is perceived as being positioned behind thedisplay 180, the depth of the object is negative-signed. On the otherhand, when an object is perceived as being positioned before the display180, the depth of the object is positive-signed. Therefore, as an objectappears closer to the user, the depth of the object is larger.

Referring to FIG. 8, if the disparity between a left-eye image 701 and aright-eye image 702 in FIG. 8( a) is smaller than the disparity bbetween the left-eye image 701 and the right-eye image 702 in FIG. 8(b), the depth a′ of a 3D object created in FIG. 8( a) is smaller thanthe depth b′ of a 3D object created in FIG. 8( b).

In the case where a left-eye image and a right-eye image are combinedinto a 3D image, the positions of the images perceived by the user mayappear changed by the disparity between the left-eye image and theright-eye image. This means that the depth of a 3D image or 3D objectformed with a left-eye image and a right-eye image in combination may becontrolled by adjusting the disparity between the left-eye and right-eyeimages.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method of controlling a remote controllerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 9( a) illustrates a pointer 205 representing movement of the remotecontroller 200 displayed on the display 180.

The user may move or rotate the remote controller 200 up and down, sideto side (FIG. 9( b)), and back and forth (FIG. 9( c)). The pointer 205displayed on the display 180 of the image display apparatus correspondsto the movement of the remote controller 200. Since the pointer 205moves in accordance with the movement of the remote controller 200 in a3D space, the remote controller 200 may be referred to as a pointingdevice.

Referring to FIG. 9( b), if the user moves the remote controller 200 tothe left, the pointer 205 moves to the left on the display 180 of theimage display apparatus.

Information about the movement of the remote controller 200 sensed bythe sensor of the remote controller 200 is transmitted to the imagedisplay apparatus. The image display apparatus may calculate thecoordinates of the pointer 205 from the information about the movementof the remote controller 200. Then, the image display apparatus maydisplay the pointer 205 at the calculated coordinates.

Referring to FIG. 9( c), while pressing a predetermined button of theremote controller 200, the user moves the remote controller 200 awayfrom the display 180. Then, a selection area corresponding to thepointer 205 may be zoomed in on and enlarged on the display 180. On thecontrary, if the user moves the remote controller 200 toward the display180, the selection area corresponding to the pointer 205 is zoomed outand thus contracted on the display 180. Alternatively, when the remotecontroller 200 moves away from the display 180, the selection area maybe zoomed out and when the remote controller 200 approaches the display180, the selection area may be zoomed in.

With the predetermined button pressed in the remote controller 200, theup, down, left and right movements of the remote controller 200 may beignored. That is, when the remote controller 200 moves away from orapproaches the display 180, only the back and forth movements of theremote controller 200 are sensed, while the up, down, left and rightmovements of the remote controller 200 are ignored. Unless thepredetermined button is pressed in the remote controller 200, thepointer 205 moves in accordance with the up, down, left or rightmovement of the remote controller 200.

The speed and direction of the pointer 205 may correspond to the speedand direction of the remote controller 200.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of theremote controller of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 10, the remote controller 200 may include a wirelesscommunication module 825, a user input unit 835, a sensor unit 840, anoutput unit 850, a power supply 860, a memory 870, and a controller 880.

The wireless communication module 825 transmits signals to and/orreceives signals from either of the afore-described image displayapparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention,herein, the image display apparatus 100.

In the present embodiment, the remote controller 200 may include an RFmodule 821 for transmitting or receiving signals to or from the imagedisplay apparatus 100 according to an RF communication standard. Theremote controller 200 may also include an IR module 823 for transmittingor receiving signals to or from the image display apparatus 100according to an IR communication standard.

In the present embodiment, the remote controller 200 transmitsinformation about the movement of the remote controller 200 to the imagedisplay apparatus 100 through the RF module 821.

The remote controller 200 may also receive signals from the imagedisplay apparatus 100 through the RF module 821. As needed, the remotecontroller 200 may transmit commands such as a power on/off command, achannel switch command, or a volume change command to the image displayapparatus 100 through the IR module 823.

The user input unit 830 may include a keypad, a plurality of buttons, atouchpad and/or a touch screen. The user may enter commands to the imagedisplay apparatus 100 by manipulating the user input unit 830. If theuser input unit 830 includes hard buttons, the user may input variouscommands to the image display apparatus 100 by pressing the hardbuttons. If the user input unit 835 includes a touch screen displayingsoft keys, the user may input various commands to the image displayapparatus 100 by touching the soft keys. The user input unit 835 mayalso include various input tools other than those set forth herein, suchas a scroll key and/or a jog wheel, which should not be construed aslimiting the present invention.

The sensor unit 840 may include a gyroscopic sensor 841 and/or anacceleration sensor 843.

The gyroscopic sensor 841 may sense the movement of the remotecontroller 200, for example, in X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, and theacceleration sensor 843 may sense the speed of the remote controller200. The sensor unit 840 may further include a distance sensor forsensing the distance between the remote controller 200 and the display180.

The output unit 850 may output a video and/or audio signal correspondingto manipulation of the user input unit 835 or corresponding to a signalreceived from the image display apparatus 100. The user may easilyidentify whether the user input unit 835 has been manipulated or whetherthe image display apparatus 100 has been controlled, based on the videoand/or audio signal output by the output unit 850.

The output unit 850 may include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module 851which is turned on or off whenever the user input unit 835 ismanipulated or whenever a signal is received from or transmitted to theimage display apparatus 100 through the wireless communication module825, a vibration module 853 which generates vibrations, an audio outputmodule 855 which outputs audio data, and/or a display module 857 whichoutputs video data.

The power supply 860 supplies power to the remote controller 200. If theremote controller 200 is kept stationary for a predetermined time orlonger, the power supply 860 may, for example, reduce or shut off supplyof power to the remote controller 200 in order to save power. The powersupply 860 may resume power supply if a predetermined key on the remotecontroller 200 is manipulated.

The memory 870 may store various types of programs and application datanecessary to control or drive the remote controller 200. The remotecontroller 200 may wirelessly transmit signals to and/or receive signalsfrom the image display apparatus 100 over a predetermined frequency bandthrough the RF module 821. The controller 880 of the remote controller200 may store information regarding the frequency band used for theremote controller 200 to wirelessly transmit signals to and/orwirelessly receive signals from the paired image display apparatus 100in the memory 870, for later use.

The controller 880 provides overall control to the remote controller200. The controller 880 may transmit a signal corresponding to a keymanipulation detected from the user input unit 830 or a signalcorresponding to the movement of the remote controller 200, as sensed bythe sensor unit 840, to the image display apparatus 100 through thewireless communication unit 825.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating an imagedisplay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,and FIGS. 12 to 18B are views referred to for describing variousexamples of the method for operating the image display apparatus,illustrated in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 11, first, the image display apparatus enters a 3Dmode (S1110). The image display apparatus may manually enter the 3D modeaccording to a user input. For example, if the remote controller 200 ora local key includes a hot key for entering the 3D mode, the imagedisplay apparatus may enter the 3D mode upon manipulation of the hotkey.

Alternatively, if an object indicating entry into the 3D mode isselected when a home screen is displayed on the display 180, the imagedisplay apparatus may enter the 3D mode.

FIG. 12A shows a home screen 1220 displayed on the display 180. The homescreen 1220 is a home screen of a smart TV and may include a region inwhich a broadcast image 1230 is displayed, a card object region in whichmovable or replaceable card objects 1240 and 1250 are displayed, and anapplication region in which a bookmark or an application menu 1260 isdisplayed.

FIG. 12A shows a content provider card object 1240 representing acontent provider list and an application card object 1250 representingan application list and, more particularly, a 3D zone application item1255 in the application card object 1250.

If the 3D zone application item 1255 is selected, the screen may beswitched to a 3D zone screen as shown in FIG. 12B. The 3D zoneapplication item 1255 may be selected using the remote controller 200and, more particularly, a pointing device. That is, the 3D zoneapplication item 1255 is selected using a pointer indicating movement ofthe remote controller 200.

The 3D zone screen 1270 is a 3D home screen as shown in FIG. 12B and mayinclude 3D OSDs 1281, 1283, 1285, 1287 and 1289 indicating content typesand an exit item 1291. The 3D zone screen 1270 may further include anOSD 1275 indicating a 3D zone screen.

As 3D OSDs, an “entertainment” item 1281, a “sports” item 1283, a“music” item 1285, an “education” item 1287 and a “kids” item 1289 aredisplayed. Since the 3D OSDs are displayed in a state of being dividedaccording to content items, a user may conveniently select desiredcontent. The exit item 1291 and the OSD 1275 indicating the 3D zonescreen may be displayed in 3D OSD.

FIG. 12B shows the case in which a user views a 3D image 1270 displayedon the display 180 of the image display apparatus 100 without wearing 3Dglasses in a glasses-type 3D image display method. The user may perceivethe partially overlapped 3D OSDs 1281, 1283, 1285, 1287 and 1289.

Next, FIG. 12C shows a 3D image 1270 viewed using 3D glasses 195 in aglasses-type 3D image display method. The 3D OSDs 1281, 1283, 1285, 1287and 1289 may have respective depths da, db, dc, dd and de.

The OSD is identical to a graphical user interface (GUI) or an objectgenerated by the OSD generator 340 of FIG. 3. The generation of the 3DOSD will be described below with reference to FIG. 14 and the subsequentfigures.

Alternatively, if an object indicating entry into the 3D mode isselected when a menu is displayed on the display 180, the image displayapparatus may enter the 3D mode.

FIG. 13A shows a menu 1330 displayed when an image 1320 is displayed onthe display 180. Such a menu 1330 may be displayed if a menu key of theremote controller 200 or the local key is manipulated.

FIG. 13A shows a home screen shortcut item, a broadcast channel numberitem, a recent viewing item, a search item, a guide item, a channelbrowser item, a 3D switch item 1335, a picture-in-picture (PIP) item, aweb browser item, etc. as items of the menu 1330.

If the 3D switch item 1335 is selected, the screen may be switched tothe 3D zone screen 1270 as shown in FIG. 13B.

The 3D switch item 1335 may be selected using the remote controller 200and, more particularly, the pointing device. That is, the 3D switch item1335 may be selected using a pointer indicating movement of the remotecontroller 200.

The 3D zone screen 1270 is a 3D home screen and may include 3D OSDs1281, 1283, 1285, 1287 and 1289 indicating content types and an exititem 1291.

The image display apparatus may automatically enter the 3D mode. Forexample, if a user wears a 3D viewing device 195, the image displayapparatus 100 detects that the user wears the 3D viewing device andautomatically control entry into the 3D mode. Whether the user wears the3D viewing device may be detected using the above-described camera unit.

If the image display apparatus automatically enters the 3D mode, thescreen may be switched to the 3D zone screen 1270 as shown in FIG. 13B.The 3D zone screen 1270 may include 3D OSDs 1281, 1283, 1285, 1287 and1289 indicating content types and an exit item 1291 as a 3D home screen.

Next, color data and depth data of 2D OSDs are received according to the3D mode (S1120). The 2D OSDs are converted into 3D OSDs using the colordata and the depth data (S1130). A 3D image including the converted 3DOSDs is displayed on the display (S1140).

The formatter 360 of the controller 170 may receive the color data andthe depth data of the OSDs. For example, the formatter 360 of thecontroller 170 may generate a 2D image in order to generate the 3D homescreen 1270 shown in FIG. 13B.

FIG. 14A shows a 2D image 1470 corresponding to the 3D home screen 1270of FIG. 13B. The 2D image 1470 may include 2D OSDs 1481, 1483, 1485,1487 and 1489 and an exit item 1491.

At this time, the 2D OSDs 1481, 1483, 1485, 1487 and 1489 and the exititem 1491 may be stored in the memory 140 or a memory of the controller170. In particular, the color data and the depth data of the 2D OSDs1481, 1483, 1485, 1487 and 1489 may be stored. Here, the color data mayinclude chroma data and luma data.

The 2D image 1470 generated by the OSD generator 340 may be transmittedto the formatter 360 through the mixer 345 and the FRC 350. Inparticular, if no image is received from the video processor 320, themixer 345 outputs only the 2D image 1470 generated by the OSD generator340. Such a 2D image 1470 may be transmitted to the formatter 360through the FRC 350.

The formatter 360 may receive data and, more particularly, the colordata and the depth data of the 2D OSDs 1481, 1483, 1485, 1487 and 1489of the 2D image 1470. The formatter 360 may receive data and, moreparticularly, color data of the exit item 1491 of the 2D image 1470without depth data.

The formatter 360 may generate a left-eye image and a right-eye imagehaving a disparity therebtween using the color data and the depth dataof the 2D OSDs 1481, 1483, 1485, 1487 and 1489.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a left-eye image and a right-eye image generatedusing the 2D OSD 1483 associated with “sports” from among the 2D OSDs1481, 1483, 1485, 1487 and 1489, for convenience of description.

If the color data RGB and the depth data Z are received in pixel unitsof the 2D OSD 1483, the formatter 360 may generate the left-eye imageand the right-eye image in pixel units.

For example, if depth data Z1 of a first pixel of the 2D OSD 1483 ofFIG. 14A is 10, a disparity between a first pixel of a left-eye imageand a first pixel of a right-eye image corresponds to the depth of 10.

As another example, if depth data Z2 of a second pixel of the 2D OSD1483 of FIG. 14A is 20, a disparity between a second pixel of a left-eyeimage and a second pixel of a right-eye image corresponds to the depthof 20.

In all pixels of the 2D OSD 1483 of FIG. 14A, a disparity between theleft-eye image and the right-eye image may correspond to the set depthdata Z. That is, as shown in FIG. 14B, the formatter 360 may generate aleft-eye image 1410 including the 2D OSD 1415 and a right-eye image 1420including the 2D OSD 1425 such that the disparity between the 2D OSDsbecomes d1.

The formatter 360 may generate the left-eye image and the right-eyeimage in OSD units, that is, in object units. If an average of the depthdata Z of the 2D OSD 1483 of FIG. 11A is 15, the left-eye image 1410including the 2D OSD 1415 and the right-eye image 1420 including the 2DOSD 1425 are generated such that the disparity between the 2D OSDs is dlcorresponding to the depth of 15 as shown in FIG. 14B.

The display 180 may combine and display the left-eye image 1410 and theright-eye image 1420. The 2D OSD 1483 of FIG. 14A may be displayed asthe 3D OSD 1283 having a predetermined depth as shown in FIG. 13B. Sincethe 2D OSD can be conveniently converted into the 3D OSD, it is possibleto increase user convenience.

The formatter 360 of the controller 170 may arrange the generatedleft-eye image and right-eye image in any one of the side-by-side format(FIG. 4( a)), the top/down format (FIG. 4( b)), the interlaced format(FIG. 4( d)) and the checker box format (FIG. 4( e)).

FIGS. 15 a and 15 b show image signal processing for viewing multipleimages using polarized glasses. The formatter 360 of the controller 170receives a left-eye image 1410 and a right-eye image 1420 and generatesan image 1430 in which the left-eye image and the right-eye image aremixed in the interlaced format (FIG. 4( d)) among the formats shown inFIGS. 4( a)-4(e).

The display 180 simultaneously displays the image1430. At this time, afilm including a left-eye polarized pattern and a right-eye polarizedpattern corresponding to the interlaced format may be disposed on thedisplay 180.

A user who wears a 3D viewing device 195 composed of the left-eyepolarized glass and the right-eye polarized glass views only the 3D zonescreen 1270 shown in FIG. 13B.

The formatter 360 of the controller 170 may arrange the receivedleft-eye and right-eye images in the frame sequential format andsequentially display the arranged left-eye and right-eye images.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show image signal processing for viewing multipleimages using shutter glasses.

The formatter 360 of the controller 170 receives the left-eye image 1410and the right-eye image 1420 and generates images 1435 in which theleft-eye image 1410 and the right-eye image 1420 are mixed in the framesequential format (FIG. 4( c)) among the formats shown in FIGS. 4(a)-4(e). That is, a vertical synchronization frequency (or a frame rate)doubles.

The display 180 sequentially displays the images1435. A left-eye glassis opened during a first time (t=t1) and thus a user who wears theshutter glasses 195 views only the first displayed left-eye image 1410of the displayed images 1435. A right-eye glass is opened during asecond time t=t2 and thus a user who wears the shutter glasses 195 viewsonly the right-eye image 1420 among the displayed images 1435. Thus, theuser who wears the 3D viewing device 195 views the 3D zone screen 1270shown in FIG. 13B.

Next, a determination as to whether 3D OSDs indicating content types(1281-1289) are selected when the 3D zone screen 1270 is displayed ismade (S1150) and, if the 3D OSDs are selected, a content list isdisplayed (S1155).

If the 3D OSD item 1281 indicating “entertainment” is selected when the3D zone screen 1270 is displayed as shown in FIG. 17A, a content list1710 associated with “entertainment” may be displayed as shown in FIG.17B.

The content list 1710 may be displayed in the form of a 2D image asshown in the figure. Alternatively, the content list 1710 may bedisplayed in the form of a 3D image.

Accordingly, since the content list 1710 can be conveniently displayed,it is possible to increase user convenience.

The 3D OSD item 1281 may be selected using the remote controller 200and, more particularly, the pointing device. That is, the 3D OSD item1281 may be selected using the pointer indicating movement of the remotecontroller 200.

Next, a determination as to whether predetermined content is selectedfrom the content list is made (S1160) and, if the predetermined contentis selected, the content is displayed in 3D (S1165).

If a specific content item 1715 is selected when a content list 1710associated with “entertainment list” is displayed as shown in FIG. 17 b,content corresponding thereto may be displayed as a 3D image 1720 asshown in FIG. 17C. In the figure, the 3D image 1720 includes a 3D object1725 having a predetermined depth.

If the selected content is a 3D image in FIG. 17B, as described above,the content can be immediately displayed as the 3D image 1720. However,if the selected content is an externally input 2D image in FIG. 17B,conversion into a 3D image is necessary.

For conversion into a 3D image, the video processor 320 of thecontroller 170 processes a video signal and sends the processed 2D imageto the mixer 345, the FRC 350 and the formatter 360. The formatter 360may convert a 2D image into a 3D image.

For example, the formatter 360 may detect edges or a selectable objectfrom the 2D video signal according to a 3D image generation algorithmand generate a 3D video signal with an object based on the detectededges or the selectable object. The generated 3D video signals may beseparated into a left-eye image signal L and a right-eye image signal Ras described above.

As another example, if the selected content is an externally input 3Dimage and, more particularly, includes color data and depth data, asdescribed above, the formatter 360 may divide the content into aleft-eye image and a right-eye image using the color data and the depthdata.

The content item 1715 may be selected using the remote controller 200and, more particularly, the pointing device. That is, the content item1715 may be selected using the pointer indicating movement of the remotecontroller 200.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show a depth setting example of a 3D screen.

First, if a specific key of the remote controller 200 is pressed or amenu selection input displayed on the display is received, the imagedisplay apparatus may enter a 3D screen depth setting mode.

FIG. 18A shows a 3D screen depth setting menu 1810 displayed on thedisplay 180.

For example, if the image display apparatus enters the 3D screen depthsetting mode when the 3D zone screen 1270 is displayed as shown in FIG.12B, object items or OSD items may be displayed as shown in FIG. 18A.

FIG. 18A shows all OSD items, an OSD item 1, an OSD item 2, . . . , upto OSD item n.

The OSD item 1, OSD item 2, up to OSD item n, in FIG. 18A may correspondto the 3D OSDs 1281, 1283, 1285, 1287 and 1289, the exit item 1291, andthe OSD 1275 indicating the 3D zone screen of FIG. 12B.

If a first OSD item 1825 is selected from among the OSD items shown inFIG. 18A, a pull-down menu 1820 may be displayed as a sub menu as shownin FIG. 18B.

The pull-down menu 1820 for controlling the depth of each OSD item mayinclude a “+” item 1833 for increasing depth, a “−” item 1836 fordecreasing depth, a depth display item 1839 for displaying a controlleddepth value and a default item 1845 for setting a predetermined depth.

A user may select the “+” item 1833 or the “−” item 1836 using theremote controller 200. Thus, it is possible to conveniently control thedepth of the OSD item.

For example, if it is assumed that the first OSD item 1825 of FIG. 18Bcorresponds to a 3D OSD 1281 of FIG. 12B and the depth of the first OSDitem 1825 is set to a value of “15” as shown in FIG. 18B, the formatter360 may generate a left-eye image and a right-eye image such that adisparity between the OSD of the left-eye image and the OSD of theright-eye image corresponds to 15.

Thus, the user can perceive a 3D OSD 1281 which appears to protrudeaccording to the depth set to “15”.

The image display apparatus and the method for operating the sameaccording to the foregoing embodiments are not restricted to theembodiments set forth herein. Therefore, variations and combinations ofthe exemplary embodiments set forth herein may fall within the scope ofthe present invention.

The method for operating an image display apparatus according to theforegoing embodiments may be implemented as code that can be written toa computer-readable recording medium and can thus be read by aprocessor. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type ofrecording device in which data can be stored in a computer-readablemanner. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include aROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical datastorage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission over the Internet).The computer-readable recording medium can be distributed over aplurality of computer systems connected to a network so thatcomputer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in adecentralized manner. Functional programs, code, and code segmentsneeded for realizing the embodiments herein can be construed by one ofordinary skill in the art.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A method for operating an image display apparatus, comprising:entering a 3-dimensional (3D) mode by receiving a user input; receivingcolor data and depth data of a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display(OSD); converting the 2D OSD into a 3D OSD using the color data and thedepth data to create a left-eye image and a right-eye image; anddisplaying a 3D image including the converted 3D OSD on a display. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the 2D OSD is converted intothe 3D OSD in pixel units using the color data and the depth data of the2D OSD.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the 2D OSD isconverted into the 3D OSD in object units using the color data and thedepth data of the 2D OSD.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe entering the 3D mode is performed when an object on the displayindicating entry into the 3D mode is selected.
 5. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the entering the 3D mode is performed when aspecific key of a remote controller is manipulated.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the converting the 2D OSD into the 3D OSDincludes generating the left-eye image and the right-eye image having adisparity therebetween using the color data and the depth data.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the 3D image is a 3D screenincluding a 3D OSD indicating a content type and an exit item.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, further comprising: displaying a contentlist if the 3D OSD indicating the content type is selected; anddisplaying content in 3D if predetermined content is selected from thecontent list.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the color dataand the depth data of the 2D OSD are previously stored data.
 10. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting the depth dataof the 2D OSD according to a user input; and storing the adjusted depthdata in a memory.
 11. A method for operating an image display apparatus,comprising: entering a 3-dimensional (3D) mode by receiving a userinput; converting a 2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD) into a 3DOSD by creating a left image and a right image from the 2D OSD; anddisplaying a 3D image including the converted 3D OSD on a display. 12.An image display apparatus comprising: a controller configured toreceive a user input for entering a 3-dimensional mode, convert a2-dimensional (2D) on screen display (OSD) into a 3-dimensional (3D) OSDusing color data and depth data of the 2D OSD when entering the 3D mode;and a display configured to display a 3D image including the converted3D OSD.
 13. The image display apparatus according to claim 12, whereinthe controller converts the 2D OSD into the 3D OSD in pixel units usingthe color data and the depth data of the 2D OSD.
 14. The image displayapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller enters into the3D mode when an object on the display indicating entry into the 3D modeis selected.
 15. The image display apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the controller enters into the 3D mode when a specific key of aremote controller is manipulated.
 16. The image display apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein the controller generates a left-eye imageand a right-eye image having a disparity therebetween using the colordata and the depth data.
 17. The image display apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the 3D image is a 3D screen including a 3D OSDindicating a content type and an exit item.
 18. The image displayapparatus according to claim 17, wherein the display is configured todisplay a content list if the 3D OSD indicating the content type in the3D image is selected, and displays content in 3D if predeterminedcontent is selected from the content list.
 19. The image displayapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a memory configuredto store the color data and the depth data of the 2D OSD.
 20. The imagedisplay apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to adjust the depth data for the 2D OSD based on a userinput; and a memory storing the adjusted depth data.